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UkraineAlert

Feb 18, 2015

Amid the ‘Cease-Fire,’ Russian Forces Win a Battle in Ukraine

By New Atlanticist

Kyiv Forced into New Retreat; US, Europe Must Increase Support, Atlantic Council Analysts Say At midday February 18, three-and-a-half days beyond the designated hour for a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, fighting was continuing in the strategic city of Debaltseve, where Russian forces continue to pound a nearly surrounded Ukrainian contingent that may still number in […]

Eastern Europe Russia

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Strong Egypt: A Party in the Middle

By Jayson Casper

On an uncontested electoral list at the Strong Egypt Party’s first general conference on February 13, Abdel Moneim Aboul-Fotouh was confirmed as president along with his running mate for general-secretary, Ahmed Fawzi. But this was the least remarkable event of the day. Their acceptance speeches set the tone for the controversy to follow.

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Syria: Is Assad Crucial to Defusing the Conflict?

By Frederic C. Hof

In a word: yes. Bashar al-Assad is absolutely crucial to defusing the conflict in Syria. United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura attracted considerable controversy and criticism for having stated the obvious.

Syria
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and British Prime Minister David Cameron, Sept. 4, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 17, 2015

David Cameron Will Encourage Britain’s Enemies If He Cuts Defense Spending, Warn Former NATO Chiefs

By Ben Riley-Smith, Telegraph

David Cameron will embolden Vladimir Putin and Islamic terrorists if he reneges on a commitment to spend two per cent of GDP on defence, two former Nato heads have warned.

NATO Russia

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Top News: Egypt Conducts Airstrikes in Libya; Sisi Calls for UN-Backed Coalition

By EgyptSource

The Egyptian army announced in a statement on Monday morning it conducted air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants’ targets in Libya, including training camps and arms depots in three coastal Libyan cities. The army also released footage of the airstrikes. Libyan air force commander Saqr Jeroushi said the attacks were conducted in coordination with the Libyan Air Force. 

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Top News: Egypt’s President Sisi calls for UN-backed coalition to fight ISIS in Libya

By MENASource

The Egyptian army announced in a statement on Monday morning it conducted air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) militants’ targets in Libya, including training camps and arms depots in three coastal Libyan cities. Libyan Air Force Commander Saqr Jeroushi said the attacks were conducted in coordination with the Libyan Air Force.

MENASource

Feb 17, 2015

Syria: Will Washington Brace Tehran on the Humanitarian Costs?

By Frederic C. Hof

Another session (the fifth) of intensive, informal discussions with senior, well-connected, and non-official Iranians produced no startling breakthroughs on the subject of Syria. Yet, there may be a way forward toward official discussions as Iranians try to strike a balance between their perceived Assad-centric national interests and the cost to Iran’s reputation incurred by their […]

Iran Syria

EconoGraphics

Feb 17, 2015

EconoGraphics – EU Energy Dependency

By Global Business & Economics Program

A great part of Europe is highly dependent on Russian energy, which helps to explain many of the concerns Europeans have over the developments in Ukraine.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Feb 14, 2015

Declaring War on Islamic Terrorism is Not the Answer, Says LeBaron

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst says White House summit must catalogue what we know about countering violent extremism A White House conference on countering violent extremism will “reinforce international will to take on the difficult issues posed by radicalization,” according to the Atlantic Council’s Richard LeBaron. The White House will host a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism […]

National Security Security & Defense
The leaders of Belarus, Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine, Feb. 11, 2015

NATOSource

Feb 14, 2015

Stephen Walt Makes the Case for Appeasing Russia

By Stephen Walt, Foreign Policy

Those who favor arming Ukraine are also applying “deterrence model” remedies to what is almost certainly a “spiral model” situation.

NATO Russia